Epilepsy can begin at any age but it is not unusual for it to start in childhood. Statistics suggest that as many as 1 in 200 children of secondary school age has epilepsy.
In event of changes to frequency and types of seizures, doctors often consider altering treatments to suit the needs of the child.
A diagnosis of epilepsy does not have to mean that your child will need to be over protected. It is important to achieve a balance between being supportive and safety conscious and allowing them to live a normal life so they do not feel 'different'. Common sense prevails. For example activities such as swimming and riding a bike can still be undertaken with simple precautions such as supervision in swimming and protective clothing for riding. Extra precautions may be needed if your child is photosensitive. Photosensitivity is picked up on during an EEG.
When your child is diagnosed with epilepsy it is important to inform their school. Schools have qualified first aiders in place who are trained to deal with seizures. The school might also want to put a care plan into place for your child. The plan will let staff know exactly what to do in the event of a seizure and who to contact if needed. Epilepsy does not need to adversely effect your child’s education. Intelligence levels in children with epilepsy are much the same as other pupils. Frequent seizures can interrupt your child’s learning but arrangements can be made to catch up with any missed work. If your child falls seriously behind as a result of their epilepsy or has a learning difficulty it is possible that they will require special education. If this is a concern for you, you can discuss this with your child’s school or your local education authority (LEA). This does not need to mean a change in school for your child.
The most important role a parent can play in their child’s life is to be supportive, regardless of their epilepsy status. It is important to stay positive and realise that epilepsy does not necessarily mean that your child will not lead a full and active life.
Children’s seizures can change in type and frequency as they grow older. Some epilepsy types do not progress into adulthood including benign rolandic epilepsy and absence epilepsy of childhood. It is estimated that about one third of childhood epilepsies have ceased by adulthood. Some girls find that their seizures increase during puberty in response to hormone changes.
Discovering your child has epilepsy can be a frightening experience and leave you with a lot of questions. The most obvious one being ' Why?' There is no one answer to this question and often there is no known cause of the epilepsy. This is known as idiopathic epilepsy. This is the case with many people both children and adults. Epilepsy can sometimes be the result of a previous illness such as meningitis or a head injury. Sometimes epilepsy can be inherited but the genetic side of epilepsy is complicated and even if there is some family history of the condition, the doctor caring for your child may not be able to conclude whether this is the case.
Children’s epilepsy is treated in much the same way as adult epilepsy. Traditional
treatment of epilepsy involves anti-
If your child has experienced one or more seizures it is likely that they will be referred to a specialist. The individuals likely to be involved in your child’s care are:
A paediatrician (specialist children’s doctor)
A paediatric neurologist (specialist in children’s neurology)
Epilepsy specialist nurse.
Your child’s seizures may be triggered by factors such as tiredness, stress or over-
Children are diagnosed with epilepsy in the same way as adults.
Diagnostic methods include:
